Since 9/11, the US has flailed away and attacked or invaded at least seven Muslim countries. American presidents now run secret overseas conflicts, including drone wars, without public knowledge or Congressional consent. Since US military presence in Muslim countries was the original motivator for the 9/11 attacks, doubling down on a failed policy seemed a poor bet among many expert analysts.
The US government has never wanted to focus public attention on its own irresponsible conduct before 9/11, instead claiming terrorists attack because of our “freedom” or because of poverty – neither of which stands up to objective analysis. The American public, examining the problem only cursorily, sees it as an us-versus-them phenomenon, never wanting to believe their government had been part of the original problem.
Empirical research has shown an increase in numbers of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) fighters following US air attacks. When civilians are killed, even accidentally, a rally-around-the-flag effect usually occurs. Similar patterns emerged in Somalia, where US involvement led to the formation of al Shabaab.
The US record of meddling in Muslim countries has had numerous unintended consequences. After media images of Americans beheaded by ISIS, Obama returned to Iraq and attacked Syria, with Republicans criticizing him for not doing more. The root of militarism and interventionism lies not with politicians but with the American people.
In a democracy, people can eventually stop counterproductive wars, as happened with Vietnam. But they must first acknowledge that their government’s public and excessive military overreaction to terrorist provocation plays into terrorists’ hands. While military response to terrorism may occasionally be needed, it should be quick, surgical, and covert to avoid becoming a recruiting tool for jihadists.